JP2016097527A - Printing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to guide a sheet to a desired place in printing equipment having a supply function and a winding function.SOLUTION: Printing equipment has: feed sections 70a, 70b which respectively hold plural rolls R around which a continuous sheet is wound; a printing part 400 which prints an image on a sheet drawn from any roll held by the feed section; a storage part 62 which stores a sheet printed by the printing part; and guide parts 61, 68 which guide a sheet discharged from the printing part to the storage part. The guide part can be changed over between guidance of a sheet discharged from the printing part to the storage part and guidance of the sheet to the feed section for winding thereof.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a supply function and a winding function.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus that has a configuration in which a roll sheet can be attached and has both a supply function for supplying a sheet and a winding function for winding the sheet. In this image forming apparatus, it is determined whether the set spool is for supply or winding, and the driving of the spool is controlled according to this.

JP 2013-116561 A

  In the apparatus of Patent Document 1, a printed sheet is discharged and stored in a basket or wound around a paper tube. In the mode of discharging to the basket, if the printed sheet has an inward curl, the sheet may enter the apparatus and cannot be discharged to the basket.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. The purpose is to guide the sheet to a desired place in a printing apparatus having a supply function and a winding function.

  In order to solve the above problems, a printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a supply unit that holds a plurality of rolls each having a continuous sheet wound thereon, and a sheet that is drawn from any of the rolls held by the supply unit. A print unit that prints an image; a storage unit that stores a sheet printed by the print unit; and a guide unit that guides a sheet discharged from the print unit to the storage unit. It is possible to switch whether the sheet discharged from the print unit is guided to the storage unit or guided to the supply unit for winding.

  According to the above configuration, the sheet can be guided to a desired place by using the guide unit that can switch whether the sheet discharged from the print unit is guided to the storage unit or the supply unit.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of the printing apparatus. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows a paper discharge part. It is a figure for demonstrating the setting method of a roll sheet. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of a support rotary body. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the printing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the setting operation | movement of a roll sheet. It is a table | surface which shows a foolproof. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a printing operation. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the rewinding operation | movement of a sheet | seat front end. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of the printing apparatus at the time of sheet winding. It is a figure for demonstrating the setting method of a paper tube. It is a figure for comparing a spool member. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the setting operation | movement of a paper tube. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a printing operation in a winding mode. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of sheet trailing edge processing in a winding mode. It is a perspective view which shows the printing apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the printing apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the printing apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the printing apparatus of 3rd Embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the printing apparatus of 4th Embodiment.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a printing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “printer”) 100 according to the present embodiment. Although details will be described later, the printer 100 has a plurality of (here, two) roll supply units (supply units). FIG. 1 shows the external appearance of the printer 100 in a state where sheets can be supplied from both roll supply units, and shows the external appearance of the printer 100 when the sheet 1 is discharged to the basket (accommodating unit) 62. The roll supply unit can be used as a supply unit that can supply a sheet or as a winding unit that winds up a sheet, so that it can be switched as appropriate to function as a supply unit or a winding unit. It has become.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 100 is provided with an operation panel (notification unit / reception unit) 20. The user uses the various switches provided on the operation panel 20 to input various commands for the printer 100 such as sheet size designation and online / offline switching. A basket 62 is disposed on the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction (y direction shown in the drawing), and the sheet discharged from the printer 100 is accommodated in the basket 62. In FIGS. 1, 17A, and 17B, illustration of a spool holder 31 and the like, which will be described later with reference to FIG. 4, is omitted.

  In the following, the configuration of the printer 100 when all roll supply units are used as supply units will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and the like. With reference to FIG. 11 and the like, the configuration of the printer 100 when any of the roll supply units is used as a winding unit will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the printer 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 100 includes a roll supply unit 70 a, a roll supply unit 70 b, a transport unit 300, a print unit 400, and a paper discharge unit 500. A roll sheet in which a long continuous sheet is wound in a roll shape is set in both of the roll supply units 70a and 70b. The continuous sheet 1 is pulled out from the roll-shaped portion (roll unit) of the roll sheet R of the roll supply unit 70 a, and the sheet 1 is conveyed toward the printing unit 400 by the conveyance unit 300.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the roll supply unit 70a has an auxiliary mechanism 200a, and the roll supply unit 70b has an auxiliary mechanism 200b. In the following, when referring specifically to the members related to the roll supply unit 70a, "a" follows the member number, and when referring specifically to the members related to the roll supply unit 70b, "b" follows the member number. Is attached. When the members related to the roll supply unit 70a and the members related to the roll supply unit 70b will be described together, they will be described without adding “a” or “b”. Further, “roll supply unit 70” is used as a general term for the roll supply units 70a and 70b.

  The auxiliary mechanism 200 includes a spool member 2, a rotating shaft 3, an arm member 4, a swing member 5, a driven rotating body 6 (rotating body), and a driven rotating body 7 (rotating body). A spool shaft 21 (described later) of the spool member 2 is inserted into the hollow core of the roll sheet R, so that the roll sheet R can rotate forward and backward as the spool shaft 21 rotates. The driven rotator 6 and the driven rotator 7 (hereinafter, these members are also referred to as “supporting rotators”) are rollers, and are disposed below the position of the roll sheet R in the z direction. A plurality of elements are arranged in the x direction (sheet width direction in the figure). In the printer 100, the sheet 1 is sent out from the roll unit by the rotation of the roll sheet R and the contact driven rotation with respect to the outer periphery of the roll unit of the roll sheet R by the support rotating body.

  The conveyance unit 300 conveys the sheet 1 sent out from the roll supply unit 70 to the printing unit 400. The conveyance unit 300 includes a conveyance guide 8 that guides both sides of the sheet 1 and guides the sheet 1 to the printing unit 400. In addition, the area | region which adjoins the printing part 400 of the conveyance guide 8 has a shape in alignment with the winding direction of the roll sheet R. By using the conveyance guide 8 having such a shape, the sheet 1 is smoothly conveyed in the direction along the curl of the sheet 1. Further, in the conveyance unit 300, a front end detection sensor 301 (second detection unit) is disposed near a portion serving as a path entrance of a sheet supplied from the roll supply unit 70. The leading edge detection sensor 301 and a leading edge detection sensor 12 (third detection unit) described later detect the sheet and output a detection signal. This signal is used as a trigger for rotation control of each motor. In a case where a sheet is not detected by the leading edge detection sensor 301 or the leading edge detection sensor 12 even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the sheet feeding operation was started, a CPU (control unit) 201 described later with reference to FIG. Each part is controlled and various processes are executed.

  On the upstream side in the y direction of the print unit 400, a front end detection sensor 12 and a roller pair constituted by the conveyance roller 10 and the pinch roller 11 are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the y direction. The transport roller 10 rotates forward and backward according to the rotation direction of a transport roller drive motor 35 described later with reference to FIG. The pinch roller 11 is disposed at a position where the sheet 1 is sandwiched between the pinch roller 11 and the conveyance roller 10, and can be driven to rotate with respect to the rotation of the conveyance roller 10. Further, the pinch roller 11 can adjust the distance between the pinch roller 11 and the conveying roller 10 by being moved upward or downward in the z direction by a not-shown separation motor so that the nip force can be adjusted. It has become.

  When the leading edge detection sensor 12 detects the leading edge of the sheet 1, a CPU 201 described later with reference to FIG. 6 controls the conveying roller driving motor 35 to rotate the conveying roller 10. The sheet 1 is sandwiched between the conveyance roller 10 and the pinch roller 11, and the sheet 1 is conveyed by the rotation of the conveyance roller 10 and the rotation of the pinch roller 11 that follows this rotation.

  The print unit 400 includes an inkjet print head 15. A discharge port is provided on a surface (discharge port surface) facing the sheet 1 of the print head 15, and ink is discharged from the discharge port and applied to the conveyed sheet 1. 1 and the like are printed. The platen 13 is disposed at a position where the sheet 1 is sandwiched between the platen 13 and the discharge port surface, and has a support surface that supports the sheet 1. A suction port 13 a is provided on the support surface of the platen 13. A suction fan 14 for sucking air from the suction port 13a is disposed below the position of the platen 13 in the z direction. When the sheet 1 is positioned in the space between the print head 15 and the platen 13, the suction fan 14 is operated to suck air from the suction port 13 a and the sheet 1 is placed on the discharge port surface of the print head 15. Prevent contact.

  The sheet 1 on which an image or the like is printed by the print unit 400 passes through the print unit 400 and is conveyed to the paper discharge unit 500. The paper discharge unit 500 includes a cutter 16, a paper discharge guide 61, and a basket 62. The cutter 16 is disposed at a position downstream of the print unit 400 in the y direction, and cuts the sheet 1. The cut sheet 1 is guided by the paper discharge guide 61, goes to the basket 62, and is stored in the basket 62.

  The paper discharge guide 61 is rotatable about a shaft 61a in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction from the front of the drawing. As a result, the printer 100 can be positioned to guide the sheet 1 during operation, and can be retracted to a position that does not hinder the user's operation when the roll sheet is set in the roll supply unit 70a. . As shown in FIG. 1, here, the sheet discharge guide 61 is a molded part formed over the entire width direction of the sheet 1 (the x direction shown in the figure).

  A guide member 68 is attached to the front end of the paper discharge guide 61 on the downstream side in the y direction and below the z direction. The guide member 68 is a movable guide member attached to the paper discharge guide 61 so as to be rotatable about a shaft 68a. The guide member 68 hangs down in the gravitational direction (z direction) by its own weight and the position shown in FIG. 1 and the like, and can be rotated between these positions. Here, the guide member 68 is formed by forming a wire. As shown in FIG. 1, here, three guide members 68 are attached to the paper discharge guide 61, and the guide members 68 are attached to both end sides and the center side in the x direction of the paper discharge guide 61. ing. The paper discharge guide 61 has a position detection sensor (first detection unit) 69. The position detection sensor 69 outputs a detection signal when the guide member 68 is stored in the paper discharge guide 61. Here, a guide portion is configured including the paper discharge guide 61 and the guide member 68.

  The basket 62 includes rods 63 a to 63 d and a cloth member 64. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rods 63a and 63b extend in the x direction. The rod 63c extends in the oblique z direction, and is disposed on both the right side and the left side in the x direction shown in FIG. One end of each rod 63c is connected to the rod 63a, and the other end of the rod 63c is rotatably attached to a member 65 attached to the stand of the printer 100. A rod 63d is attached to a portion of each rod 63c on the rod 63a side. The end of each rod 63d opposite to the end on the rod 63c side is attached to the rod 63b. That is, the rod 63b and the rod 63c are connected by the rod 63d. One end of the cloth member 64 in the y direction is attached to the rod 63a, and the other end is attached to the rod 63b.

  The printer 100 is provided with a position detection sensor 67. The position detection sensor 67 detects the rod 63b and outputs a detection signal when the basket 62 is in the open state shown in FIG.

  FIGS. 3A to 3C are schematic cross-sectional views showing the state of the paper discharge unit 500. 3A shows a state in which the basket 62 is opened, and FIG. 3B shows a state in which the guide member 68 is stored in the paper discharge guide 61 and the basket 62 is closed. . FIG. 3C shows a state where the guide member 68 is stored in the paper discharge guide 61 and the basket 62 is stored below the roll supply unit 70b in the z direction.

  When both the roll supply units 70a and 70b are used as supply units, the basket 62 is opened, and the sheet cut by the cutter 16 is guided by the guide member 68 and stored in the basket 62. As shown in FIG. 3A, in a state where the basket 62 is opened, the cloth member 64 has portions 64a, 64b, and 64c that constitute bag-like portions. The parts 64c, 64b, and 64a are formed sequentially from the upstream side in the y direction. The guide member 68 is disposed between the paper discharge guide 61 and the portion 64c, and the sheet cut by the cutter 16 is guided by the paper discharge guide 61, the guide member 68, and the portion 64c, and the portions 64a and 64b. , 64c. A gap is not formed between the guide member 68 and the rod 63b to which one end of the cloth member 64 is attached, so that the sheet 1 is discharged from the printer 100. It is prevented from entering the roll supply unit 70 again.

  When the basket 62 is not used, the rod 63c is moved from the state shown in FIG. 3A to the position parallel to or substantially horizontal with respect to the installation surface of the printer 100 around the member 65 counterclockwise as viewed from the front of the drawing. Rotate. Then, the state shown in FIG. When the rod 63c is moved in the thrust direction from the state shown in FIG. 3B and stored in a position below the roll supply unit 70b in the z direction, the state shown in FIG. 3C is obtained.

  When the guide member 68 is in the state shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, if the sheet is discharged without being wound, the discharged sheet enters the roll supply unit due to the influence of the sheet curl or the like. Sometimes. Then, the discharged sheet may be folded or torn, or the discharged sheet may come into contact with the roll sheet R and the discharged sheet ink may adhere to the roll sheet R. Further, the discharged sheet may stick to the roll sheet R due to static electricity and may be conveyed together when the sheet is supplied from the roll sheet R. On the other hand, when the guide member 68 is in the state shown in FIG. 3A, the sheet progresses toward the roll supply unit used as a winding unit when winding the sheet. Further, when the roll sheet R or the paper tube 17 described later with reference to FIG. 11 is set in the roll supply unit, the guide member 68 and the paper discharge guide 61 obstruct the setting operation.

  In order to cope with these, a movable guide member 68 is used here. When the discharged sheet is accommodated in the basket 62, the guide member 68 is disposed at a position extending downward in the z direction to prevent the discharged sheet from entering the roll supply unit. On the other hand, when exchanging the roll sheet R or winding up the sheet, the guide member 68 is stored in the paper discharge guide 61, and when the roll sheet R is set or the sheet is wound up, the guide member 68 is This prevents the operation from being hindered. Here, the position detection sensors 67 and 69 are used to determine whether the user's recognition corresponds to the printer control mode.

  In the state shown in FIG. 3A, the position detection sensor 69 does not output a detection signal because the guide member 68 is not housed in the paper discharge guide 61, but the position detection sensor 67 is not open because the basket 62 is opened. The rod 63b is detected and a detection signal is output. In the state shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, since the guide member 68 is accommodated in the paper discharge guide 61, the position detection sensor 69 outputs a detection signal, but the position detection sensor 67 detects the rod 63b. No detection signal is output. The CPU 201 described later with reference to FIG. 6 determines the state of the basket 62 and the guide member 68 from the detection results from the position detection sensors 67 and 69, that is, the current state of the printer 100. When the basket 62 is stored or the guide member 68 is stored, if any of the roll supply units 70 is used as a supply unit, the fact is displayed on the operation panel 20 to the user. Warning. Details will be described later with reference to FIG.

  4A to 4C are views for explaining a method of setting the roll sheet R on the spool member 2 which is a support portion. The spool member 2 includes a spool shaft 21, a friction member 22, a reference-side spool flange 23, a non-reference-side spool flange 24, a spool rotation gear 25, and two flange attachments 26. As shown in FIG. 3A, a reference side spool flange 23 is disposed at one end of the spool shaft 21. A spool rotation gear 25 for rotating the spool shaft 21 is attached to the other end of the spool shaft 21. Further, friction members 22 are arranged inside the reference side spool flange 23 and the non-reference side spool flange 24 (on the side where the reference side spool flange 23 and the non-reference side spool flange 24 face each other). One flange attachment 26 is detachably attached to the reference side spool flange 23 and the other flange attachment 26 is detachably attached to the non-reference side spool flange 24 using a member having spring properties such as a hook. The flange attachment 26 is removed from the flange when the roll supply unit is used as a winding unit, but can be handled integrally with the flange in other cases.

  When setting the roll sheet R on the spool member 2, first, the non-reference side spool flange 24 fitted to the spool shaft 21 and the flange attachment 26 attached thereto are removed integrally. The spool shaft 21 is passed through the hollow core of the roll sheet R, and the flange attachment 26 attached to the reference side spool flange 23 is fitted to a position where the side portion of the roll sheet R contacts, and the inner surface of the roll sheet R is fitted to the friction member 22. Contact. Thereafter, the non-reference side spool flange 24 and the flange attachment 26 integrated therewith are passed through the spool shaft 21, and the friction member 22 provided inside the non-reference side spool flange 24 in the hollow core of the roll sheet R. Fit. As a result, the position of the non-reference side spool flange 24 is fixed. The roll sheet R is fixedly held by the spool member 2 as the friction member 22 bites into the inner surface of the hollow core of the roll sheet R by the elastic force in the radial direction, and rotates with the rotation of the spool shaft 21. When the roll sheet R is set on the spool member 2, the spool member 2 and the roll sheet R are integrated as shown in FIG.

  The printer 100 is provided with a flange attachment detection sensor 28. The flange attachment detection sensor 28 is a reflective sensor. Here, a case will be described in which the user selects whether to use the roll supply unit as a supply unit or a winding unit by using a switch provided on the operation panel 20. However, it is also possible to determine which function unit the roll supply unit is to use using the detection result from the flange attachment detection sensor 28. In this case, the CPU 201 described later with reference to FIG. 6 determines that the roll supply unit is used as the supply unit when the flange attachment 26 is attached to the reference-side spool flange 23. When the flange attachment 26 is not attached to the reference side spool flange 23, it is determined that the roll supply unit is used as a winding unit. Further, when the changeover switch is provided in the printer 100, which function unit the roll supply unit is used for may be selected by a user's operation of the changeover switch. Thus, the selection method of using a roll supply part as a supply unit or a roll supply part is not specifically limited.

  FIG. 4C is a side view showing a state where the spool member 2 is held by the spool holder 31 provided in the printer 100 main body. The printer 100 is provided with a spool holder 31 that is a holding portion that holds the spool member 2. The spool holder 31 is provided at a position corresponding to the reference side spool flange 23 and a position corresponding to the non-reference side spool flange 24 so that the spool member 2 can be disposed at a desired position of the printer 100. The spool holder 31 has a substantially U-shaped cross section when viewed from the front of the drawing, and has an opening that opens upward in the z direction. The spool shaft 21 can be fitted through the opening. It can be done. The user sets the spool member 2 in the spool holder 31 by lowering the spool member 2 obliquely downward from the upper side to the lower side in the z direction.

  In a state where the spool shaft 21 is fitted in the spool holder 31, the spool drive gear 30 is disposed at a position where the spool shaft 21 is engaged with the spool rotation gear 25. The spool drive gear 30 is rotated by driving by a spool drive motor 34 which will be described later with reference to FIG. 6, and this rotation is transmitted from the spool drive gear 30 to the spool rotation gear 25. The shaft 21 rotates. As the spool shaft 21 rotates, the roll sheet R supported by the spool member 2 also rotates, and the sheet 1 is fed from the roll supply unit 70. Further, the sheet 1 is rewound by rotating the roll sheet R in the direction opposite to the feeding direction.

  The spool detection sensor 32 detects whether or not the spool member 2 is set in the spool holder 31. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 3C, the spool detection sensor 32 is disposed at a position where the spool member 2 can be detected in a state where the spool member 2 is disposed in the spool holder 31.

  In this way, the roll sheet R integrated with the spool member 2 is placed in the spool holder 31 provided in the printer 100, thereby setting the roll sheet R in the printer 100.

  FIGS. 5A and 5B are views for explaining the configuration of the auxiliary mechanism 200a. FIG. 5A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the broken line area shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5B shows a state in which the auxiliary mechanism 200a shown in FIG. 5A is viewed from the downstream side in the feeding direction. FIG. Here, the configuration of the auxiliary mechanism 200a will be described, but the auxiliary mechanism 200b also has the same configuration. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the auxiliary mechanism 200 a includes an arm member 4, a swinging member 5, driven rotating bodies 6 and 7, and the like.

  5A and 5B is rotatably attached to the main body of the printer 100, and both ends thereof are constrained in the thrust direction by a ring member (not shown). The rotating shaft 3 is engaged with an engaging portion 4 a provided at one end of the arm member 4. The engaging portion 4 b provided at the other end of the arm member 4 is slidably engaged with the shaft member 41. Both ends of the shaft member 41 are restrained in the thrust direction by a ring member (not shown). An engaging portion 5a provided at the center position in the y direction of the swing member (rotating body holding portion) 5 is engaged with the shaft member 41 so as to be swingable.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, a distance sensor 5c is disposed on the surface of the swing member 5 facing upward in the z direction. Here, a non-contact type reflective sensor is used as the distance sensor 5c, but a contact type sensor may be used. Here, the outer diameter of the roll sheet R is obtained from the distance between the outer surface of the roll sheet R and the driven rotors 6 and 7 using the distance sensor 5c. The distance sensor 5c is disposed at a substantially central part in the y direction on the surface of the swinging member 5 facing upward in the z direction, and the distance of the swinging member 5 from the distance sensor 5c is equal at both ends in the y direction. The fixed portions 5b are respectively arranged.

  One end of a compression spring (elastic body) 46 is fixed to the fixed portion 5 b, and the other end of the compression spring 46 is fixed to the protruding portion 47 a of the shaft member 47. The compression spring 46 biases the shaft member 47 from the lower side to the upper side in the z direction. The driven rotator 6 is rotatably engaged with the shaft member 47 on the downstream side in the feeding direction, and the driven rotator 7 is rotatably engaged with the shaft member 47 on the upstream side in the feeding direction. Since the shaft member 47 is biased from the lower side in the z direction to the upper side by the compression spring 46, the driven rotor 6 and the driven rotor 7 engaged with the shaft member 47 are moved from the lower side in the z direction to the upper side. It is comprised so that it can contact | abut with the outer periphery of the roll sheet | seat R toward.

  In the state of being in contact with the roll sheet R, the driven rotator 6 and the driven rotator 7 rotate as the roll sheet R rotates. The driven rotator 6 and the driven rotator 7 are arranged apart from each other in the feeding direction in which the sheet 1 is drawn from the roll portion of the roll sheet R. The driven rotator 7 is arranged at a position farther from the conveyance guide 8 shown in FIG. 2 than the position of the driven rotator 6 so that the roll sheet R does not sag in a state where it is in contact with the roll sheet R. The roll sheet R is supported by being supported from the lower side (lower side) in the gravitational direction (z direction).

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the driven rotator 6 and the driven rotator 7 are respectively arranged at substantially equal distances in the y direction with respect to the center position of the swing member 5. With this configuration, the force (contact force) with which the driven rotating body 6 and the driven rotating body 7 come into contact with each other by the swinging of the swinging member 5 around the shaft member 41 is equalized.

  A rotating cam 42 is disposed on the lower side in the z direction than the position of the arm member 4. The arm member 4 is positioned by being urged against the rotating cam 42 by the weight of the swinging member 5, the driven rotating bodies 6, 7 and the like. The rotating cam 42 is engaged with the shaft member 43.

  The shaft member 43 is rotated by a drive motor 33 which will be described later with reference to FIG. 6, and the rotation cam 42 is rotated accordingly, thereby rotating the arm member 4 and swinging the swinging member 5. The rotating body 6 and the driven rotating body 7 (supporting rotating body) are displaced. Here, the support rotating body is positioned at a contact position that contacts the outer periphery of the roll sheet R or a spaced position that is separated from the outer periphery of the roll sheet R. Although details will be described later with reference to FIG. 7, the support rotator is positioned at the contact position in the feeding operation (supply operation), and the support rotator is positioned at the separation position during skew correction.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the printer 100. As shown in FIG. 6, the printer 100 includes a CPU 201, an input / output interface 202, a RAM 203, and a ROM 204. The CPU 201 controls the entire printer 100. The ROM 204 stores various programs executed by the CPU 201 and unique data necessary for various operations of the printer 100. The RAM 203 is used as a work area for the CPU 201 and a temporary storage area for various received data. The RAM 203 stores various setting data.

  The user operates the operation panel 20 to input the sheet type, size, selection of whether the roll supply unit is used as a supply unit or a winding unit, various setting information, and the like. This information is input to the CPU 201 via the input / output interface 202. Further, the CPU 201 displays various information on the operation panel 20 via the input / output interface 202.

  The printer 100 is connected to an external device (not shown), an external storage medium, or the like. Here, various processes are performed on the image data in an external device or an external storage medium to generate print data, and the print data is input to the CPU 201 via the input / output interface 202. The CPU 201 controls the entire printer 100 so as to print an image based on the print data. Note that image data may be input to the printer 100 from an external device (not shown), an external storage medium, or the like, and various processing may be performed on the image data by the CPU 201 of the printer 100 to generate print data.

  The CPU 201 is connected to the distance sensor 5 c, the flange attachment detection sensor 28, the spool detection sensor 32, the tip detection sensors 12 and 301, and the position detection sensors 67 and 69. The CPU 201 writes information from these into the RAM 203 and reads out the written information. The CPU 201 is connected to a spool drive amount detection encoder (fourth detection unit) 36 and a conveyance roller drive amount detection encoder 37. The spool drive amount detection encoder 36 detects the rotation amount (rotation angle or rotation speed) of the spool drive motor 34. The conveyance roller drive amount detection encoder 37 detects the rotation amount of the conveyance roller drive motor 35. A distance sensor 5c, a flange attachment detection sensor 28, a spool detection sensor 32, a drive motor 33, a spool drive motor 34, a spool drive amount detection encoder 36, and the like are provided corresponding to each roll supply unit.

  Although details will be described later, here, the position of the support rotating body is determined using the distance sensor 5c. However, you may determine the position of a support rotary body using each encoder. In that case, the outer diameter of the roll sheet R is obtained by sandwiching the sheet 1 between the conveying roller 10 and the pinch roller 11 and comparing the detection values of the encoders when the sheet 1 is conveyed with a predetermined amount conveyed. And the support rotating body is positioned at a desired position.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of setting operation of the roll sheet R, and is a flowchart for explaining the operation of setting the leading end of the sheet at a position before the start of the printing operation. As described above, whether the roll supply unit is used as the supply unit (supply mode) or the winding unit (winding mode) is selected by the operation of the operation panel 20 by the user. In the supply mode, since the printed sheet is discharged to the basket, it may be called a discharge mode.

  Here, a case will be described in which the user operates the operation panel 20 to use the roll supply units 70a and 70b as a supply unit and the discharge mode in which printed sheets are discharged to the basket is selected.

  When the user turns on the printer 100, the process shown in FIG. 7 is started. When the spool detection sensor 32 detects that the spool member 2 is set in the printer 100 (S1), the CPU 201 confirms the current control mode (S2). More specifically, the CPU 201 determines which one of the discharge mode (supply mode) in which any roll supply unit is used as the supply unit or the winding mode in which any roll supply unit is used as the winding unit is selected by the user. Confirm (S2). Further, the CPU 201 determines the current state of the printer 100 (the state of the guide member 68 and the basket 62) based on the detection signals from the position detection sensors 67 and 69 (S3). The CPU 201 compares the current control mode with the current state of the printer 100, and determines whether they are compatible (S4).

  Here, the fact that the control mode corresponds to the state of the printer 100 means that the state of the printer 100 is a state in which the sheet is guided to a desired place when control according to the control mode is performed. It shall be said. Here, in the discharge mode (supply mode), when the guide member 68 is not stored in the discharge guide 61 and the basket 62 is in an open state capable of storing sheets, the control mode and the state of the printer 100 are set. Are consistent. In the winding mode, it is assumed that the control mode and the state of the printer 100 match when the guide member 68 is stored in the paper discharge guide 61 and the basket 62 is stored. If they are not matched, a desired process such as printing or winding is not executed, and the user may not notice that they are not matched. In order to prevent these, here, it is determined whether or not the control mode and the state of the printer 100 are consistent. Let me check. Here, a case will be described in which the control panel 20 and the state of the printer 100 are displayed on the operation panel 20 to notify the user, but the user may be notified by voice, for example. .

  FIGS. 8A and 8B are tables showing a specific example in which the control mode and the state of the printer 100 do not match, and foolproof in this specific example. FIG. 8A shows a case where the state of the printer 100 is determined using the detection results from the position detection sensors 67 and 69. FIG. 8B shows a case where the state of the printer 100 is determined using detection results from the leading edge detection sensors 12 and 301 and the spool drive amount detection encoder 36. The reason why the control mode and the state of the printer 100 do not match may be that the user forgets to switch the control mode on the operation panel 20 or the switching operation on the operation panel 20 is completed, but each set operation is performed. If you have forgotten. FIGS. 8A and 8B show a case where the user forgets the control mode switching operation.

  8A, the roll supply unit 70b used by the user as the supply unit is used as the winding unit, and the guide member 68 is stored in the paper discharge guide 61 or the basket 62 is stored. This shows a case where the mode switching operation is forgotten. In this case, a warning is given to the user when the position detection sensor 69 detects the guide member 68 or when the position detection sensor 67 does not detect the rod 63b. In FIG. 8 (a), the guide member 68 is extended in the z direction or the basket 62 is opened in order to use the roll supply unit 70b used by the user as the winding unit as the supply unit. This shows a case where the mode switching operation is forgotten. In this case, the user is warned when the position detection sensor 67 does not detect the guide member 68 or when the position detection sensor 67 detects the rod 63b.

  I in FIG. 8B sets the paper tube 17 in the roll supply unit 70b to use the roll supply unit 70b used by the user as the supply unit as the take-up unit, but forgets to change the control mode. Shows the case. In this case, a warning is given to the user when the leading edge detection sensor 301b does not detect the leading edge of the sheet, or when only the spool driving amount detection encoder 36b detects the rotation amount and the leading edge detection sensor 12 does not detect the leading edge of the sheet. To do. Specifically, for the latter, even if the spool member 2b is rotated by the number of rotations or the rotation angle necessary for the sheet to reach the detection range of the leading end detection sensor 12, the roll sheet R is set in the roll supply unit 70b. Therefore, the leading edge detection sensor 12 does not detect the sheet. For this reason, when the leading edge detection sensor 12 does not detect the leading edge of the sheet even if the spool driving amount detection encoder 36b detects a predetermined amount of rotation necessary for the sheet to reach the detectable range of the leading edge detection sensor 12. Warn the user. In FIG. 8B, the roll sheet R is set in the roll supply unit 70b in order to use the roll supply unit 70b used by the user as the winding unit as the supply unit, but the control mode switching operation is forgotten. Shows the case. In this case, when the leading edge detection sensor 301b detects the leading edge of the sheet, or when only the spool driving amount detection encoder 36b detects the rotation amount and the leading edge detection sensor 12 detects the leading edge of the sheet, a warning is given to the user. To do.

  In the flow shown in FIG. 7, a case where the state of the printer 100 is determined using the detection results from the position detection sensors 67 and 69 (FIG. 8A) will be described. However, the method for determining the state of the printer 100 is not limited to this method. For example, the state of the printer 100 may be determined using only the position detection sensor 67. That is, the state of the printer 100 may be determined based on whether or not the guide member 68 is detected. You may discriminate | determine by whether a sheet | seat is detected (FIG.8 (b)). Further, the state of the printer 100 may be determined using a detection result from the flange attachment detection sensor 28 or the like. Note that the number of sensors used to determine the state of the printer 100, the positions thereof, and the like are not particularly limited to the above-described example.

  When the current control mode and the current state of the printer 100 do not match (NO in S4), that is, as shown in FIG. 9, the CPU 201 displays that fact on the operation panel 20, etc. The user is warned (S5). Then, it is determined again whether or not the control mode matches the state of the printer 100 (S4).

  On the other hand, if the control mode matches the state of the printer 100 (YES in S4), the CPU 201 displays an instruction to insert the leading end of the sheet up to the conveyance guide 8 on the operation panel 20 (S6). When the user rotates the roll sheet R in accordance with this instruction and inserts the leading edge of the sheet 1 up to the conveyance guide 8, the leading edge of the sheet 1 is detected by the leading edge detection sensors 301a and 301b (S7).

  When the detection signals from the tip detection sensors 301 a and 301 b are sent to the CPU 201, the CPU 201 rotates the shaft member 43 by rotating the drive motor 33 and rotates the arm member 4 by rotation of the rotating cam 42. Here, when the drive motor 33 is rotated forward, the support rotator approaches the outer periphery of the roll sheet R, and when the drive motor 33 is rotated reversely, the support rotator is moved away from the outer periphery of the roll sheet R. The distance sensor 5 c measures the distance from the outer periphery of the roll sheet R and sends the result to the CPU 201.

  From this measurement result, the CPU 201 obtains the current position of the support rotator, controls the drive motor 33 accordingly, and positions the support rotator at a desired position. While obtaining the measurement result of the distance sensor 5c, the CPU 201 places the support rotator at a position where the force applied from the support rotator to the roll sheet R (the force with which the support rotator contacts the roll sheet R) becomes a desired force. The drive motor 33 is operated so as to be positioned. More specifically, when the desired contact force is not reached, the drive motor 33 is further rotated forward so that the desired contact force is obtained. On the other hand, when the contact force exceeds the desired contact force, the drive motor 33 is rotated in the reverse direction. In this way, the support rotating body is arranged at a position where the contact force with respect to the roll sheet R becomes a desired contact force, and the roll sheet R is pressed by the auxiliary mechanism 200 (S8).

  Here, the sheet is supplied from the roll supply unit 70a. At that time, the CPU 201 rotates the spool drive motor 34a forward, rotates the spool shaft 21a via the spool drive gear 30a and the spool rotation gear 25a, and starts the sheet 1 feeding operation (S9). Further, the CPU 201 also rotates the transport roller drive motor 35 in the normal direction to rotate the transport roller 10 (S9). The normal rotation of the spool drive motor 34 and the transport roller drive motor 35 refers to rotation in a direction in which the spool member 2 and the transport roller 10 are rotated counterclockwise from the front view of FIG.

  When the sheet 1 is fed, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the leading edge detection sensor 12 has detected the leading edge of the sheet 1 (S10). When the leading edge of the sheet 1 is not detected by the leading edge detection sensor 12 (NO in S10), the CPU 201 repeats the determination in S10 until the leading edge of the sheet 1 is detected. If the leading edge of the sheet 1 is detected by the leading edge detection sensor 12 (YES in S10), the CPU 201 determines whether or not the sheet 1 has been conveyed by a predetermined amount (S11). The predetermined amount means that the front end of the sheet 1 is located upstream of the positions of the conveying roller 10 and the pinch roller 11 even when the conveyance and winding of the sheet 1 are repeated during the skew correction operation. It is assumed that there is no amount.

  If the sheet 1 is not conveyed by a predetermined amount (NO in S11), the CPU 201 repeats the determination in S11 until the sheet 1 is conveyed by a predetermined amount. When the sheet 1 is conveyed by a predetermined amount (YES in S11), the CPU 201 rotates the drive motor 33a in the reverse direction, and the rotation of the rotary cam 42a accompanying the rotation of the shaft member 43a causes the outer periphery of the roll sheet R to move. The arm member 4a is rotated in the direction of moving away. Thereby, the auxiliary mechanism 200a is separated from the roll sheet R (S12). Further, the CPU 201 controls the separation motor (not shown) to separate the pinch roller 11 from the transport roller 10 and weaken the nip force by the pinch roller 11 (S12).

  Then, under the control of the spool driving motor 34a and the conveying roller driving motor 35 by the CPU 201, the conveyance and rewinding of the sheet 1 are repeated, and the skew of the sheet 1 is corrected (S13). The position of the end of the sheet 1 is read by a sensor (not shown), and the skew amount is detected. The CPU 201 determines whether or not the skew of the sheet 1 has been corrected based on information from a sensor (not shown) (S14). When the skew of the sheet 1 is corrected (YES in S14), the CPU 201 ends the skew correction operation, and when the skew of the sheet 1 is not corrected (NO in S14). The skew correction operation is continued until the skew is corrected.

  If the CPU 201 determines that the skew of the sheet 1 has been corrected (YES in S14), the CPU 201 determines whether or not the leading edge detection sensor 12 has detected the leading edge of the sheet 1 (S15). When the leading edge of the sheet 1 is not detected (NO in S15), the CPU 201 rewinds the sheet 1 until the leading edge detection sensor 12 detects the leading edge of the sheet 1. When the leading edge of the sheet 1 is detected by the leading edge detection sensor 12 (YES in S15), the CPU 201 controls the spool driving motor 34a and the conveyance roller driving motor 35. Specifically, the CPU 201 controls the spool driving motor 34a and the conveying roller driving motor 35 to stop the rotation of the spool driving gear 30a and the conveying roller 10 (S16), and stops the rewinding operation of the sheet 1.

  The CPU 201 controls a separation motor (not shown) to move the pinch roller 11 in a direction approaching the conveying roller 10, and returns the nip force by the pinch roller 11 to the nip force before the skew correction operation (S17). Exit. In this way, after feeding the leading edge of the sheet 1 from the roll portion of the roll sheet R and correcting the skew of the sheet 1, the leading edge of the sheet 1 is set at a position before starting the printing operation, and the printing operation is started. Waiting for

  Here, a case has been described in which the sheet 1 is conveyed by a predetermined amount so that the leading end of the sheet 1 is not positioned upstream of the positions of the conveying roller 10 and the pinch roller 11 in the feeding direction in the skew correction operation. However, depending on the skew amount of the sheet 1 or the like, the leading edge of the sheet 1 may be rewound to the upstream side in the feeding direction from the positions of the transport roller 10 and the pinch roller 11 during the skew correction operation. In this case, the sheet 1 may be fed by bringing the supporting rotating body into contact with the outer periphery of the roll sheet R again.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of the printing operation. Since the printing operation is started after S17 described in FIG. 7, the auxiliary mechanism 200a is separated from the roll sheet R, and the nip force of the pinch roller 11 is the nip force before the skew correction operation. . When the CPU 201 receives the print data, the CPU 201 starts this processing, rotates the spool drive motor 34a and the conveyance roller drive motor 35 forward (S21), and determines whether or not the sheet 1 has been conveyed by a predetermined amount (S22). The predetermined amount is a conveyance amount corresponding to the distance from the position of the leading edge detection sensor 12 to the position of the print head 15, and the amount of time until the leading edge of the sheet 1 is positioned at a position between the print head 15 and the platen 13. It is assumed that the conveyance amount. If the sheet 1 is not conveyed by a predetermined amount (NO in S22), the determination in S22 is repeated until the sheet 1 is conveyed by a predetermined amount.

  If the sheet 1 is being conveyed by a predetermined amount (YES in S22), the printing operation is started (S23). By repeating the scanning of the print head 15 in the x direction and the conveyance of the sheet 1 by the conveyance roller 10, an image or the like is printed on the sheet 1. During the printing operation, the spool drive motor 34a is rotated in reverse in order to apply an appropriate back tension to the sheet 1 to prevent the sheet 1 from slacking and to convey the sheet 1 stably. Further, the current supplied to the spool driving motor 34a is limited to suppress the driving force of the spool driving gear 30a, and the sheet 1 is controlled to be pulled by the conveying roller 10. Here, the method of reverse rotation while limiting the current to the spool drive motor 34a has been described. However, by increasing the rotation speed of the conveying roller 10 rather than the rotation speed of the spool shaft 21, a back tension is applied to the sheet 1. The sheet 1 may be conveyed while being stretched. As described above, the method for preventing the sheet 1 from being bent to prevent the occurrence of a sheet crease or a sheet conveyance error is not particularly limited.

  Next, the CPU 201 determines whether or not printing of the received print data has been completed (S24). If not completed (NO in S24), the determination in S24 is repeated until the process is completed. If completed (YES in S24), whether or not the sheet 1 has been conveyed by a predetermined amount, more specifically, whether or not the rear end of the sheet 1 on which the image has been printed has reached the position of the cutter 16. Is determined (S25). If not transported (NO in S25), the determination in S25 is repeated until transported. If the sheet is being conveyed (YES in S25), the rotation of the spool drive motor 34a and the conveyance roller drive motor 35 is stopped, the drive motor (not shown) is driven, and the sheet 1 is cut by the cutter 16 (S26). The sheet on which the image has been printed and cut is guided by the paper discharge guide 61 and the guide member 68 and accommodated in the basket 62. The CPU 201 reversely rotates the spool driving motor 34a and the conveyance roller driving motor 35 to rewind the sheet 1 (S27), and determines whether the leading edge detection sensor 12 has detected the leading edge of the sheet 1 in the printer 100. (S28). If not detected (NO in S28), the sheet 1 is rewound until detected. When the leading edge of the sheet 1 is detected by the leading edge detection sensor 12 (YES in S28), the CPU 201 stops the rotation of the spool driving motor 34a and the conveyance roller driving motor 35 (S29), and ends this process. Then, it enters a standby state waiting for the start of the next printing operation.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of the operation of rewinding the leading edge of the sheet 1 in the printer 100 to the position of the leading edge detection sensor 301. The rewinding operation described with reference to FIG. 10 is performed by supplying the leading edge of the sheet 1 near the conveying roller 10 in the standby state after the processing described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 9 to the supply of the roll supply units 70a and 70b. It is an operation of rewinding to the vicinity of the mouth. It is executed when the roll sheet is replaced or when the roll supply unit used as the supply unit is switched.

  When the user inputs a roll sheet replacement instruction or a supply unit switching instruction to the CPU 201, this process is started, and the CPU 201 rotates the drive motor 33a forward and presses the roll sheet R by the auxiliary mechanism 200a (S41). ). Then, the spool drive motor 34a is reversely rotated (S42). Since the processing of FIGS. 7 and 9 ends after the leading edge detection sensor 12 detects the leading edge of the sheet 1, only the spool driving motor 34a is rotated in reverse here. However, when the present processing is started from a state in which the leading edge of the sheet 1 is not yet detected by the leading edge detection sensor 12, not only the spool driving motor 34a but also the conveying roller driving motor 35 is reversely rotated in S42. In this case, when the leading edge of the sheet 1 is detected by the leading edge detection sensor 12, the rotation of the conveyance roller drive motor 35 is stopped.

  The CPU 201 determines whether or not the leading edge of the sheet 1 that has been rewound upstream in the feeding direction by the rotation of the spool member 2a is detected by the leading edge detection sensor 301a (S43). If the leading edge of sheet 1 is not detected (NO in S43), the process of S43 is repeated until it is detected. If the leading edge of sheet 1 is detected (YES in S43), rotation of spool drive motor 34a is stopped (S44), and the rewinding operation here is terminated.

  When the leading edge of the sheet is wound up to the roll part for the purpose of replacing the roll sheet, the spool driving motor 34a is rotated for a predetermined time after the leading edge detection sensor 301a detects the leading edge of the sheet, The sheet may be rewound until the tip is removed. On the other hand, for example, when switching the roll supply unit that uses the supply function, as soon as the sheet is detected by the leading edge detection sensor 301a, the spool drive motor 34a stops rotating, and the leading edge of the sheet is positioned in the vicinity of the leading edge detection sensor 301a. It can also maintain the state. At that time, the state where the auxiliary mechanism 200a presses the roll sheet is maintained, and the sheet is prevented from coming off the conveyance guide 8 due to its own weight. Accordingly, when the roll supply unit used as the supply unit is switched again, the operation of inserting the leading end of the sheet into the conveyance guide 8 can be omitted.

  Next, the case where the roll supply unit 70b is used as a winding unit will be described. FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the printer 100 when winding a sheet. Here, the roll supply unit 70b is used as a winding unit. The other configuration is the same as the configuration described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, the paper tube 17 is set on the spool member 2b of the roll supply unit 70b, and the leading edge of the sheet 1 supplied from the roll supply unit 70a is wound around the paper tube 17.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the sheet is wound, the guide member 68 and the basket 62 are stored so as not to hinder the operation. Therefore, the winding operation is executed when the position detection sensor 67 is turned off without detecting the rod 63b and the position detection sensor 69 is turned on by detecting the guide member 68.

  FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams for explaining a method of setting the paper tube 17. The paper tube 17 is set on the spool member 2 by a method similar to the method for setting the roll sheet R described with reference to FIGS. That is, in the above-described method, the paper tube 17 is set on the spool member 2 by replacing the roll sheet R with the paper tube 17.

  FIGS. 13A and 13B are views for comparing the spool member 2. FIG. 13 (a) shows the configuration of the spool member 2 at the time of supply, and FIG. 13 (b) shows the configuration of the spool member 2 at the time of winding. As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, unlike the spool member 2 at the time of supply, the flange attachment 26 is not disposed on the spool member 2 at the time of winding. As described above, the flange attachment 26 can be detached from the reference side spool flange 23 and the non-reference side spool flange 24. Therefore, when the spool member 2 used for supply is used for winding, the flange attachment 26 is removed, and when the spool member 2 used for winding is used for supply, the flange attachment 26 is attached.

  As shown in FIG. 13 (a), the contact surface of the flange attachment 26 with the end portion of the sheet 1 is a flat surface, and the end portion in the width direction of the roll sheet R is abutted against the flat surface and the width direction. It is designed for positioning. Here, a flange attachment 26 having a flat surface is attached to both the reference side spool flange 23 and the non-reference side spool flange 24. However, the surface of the flange attachment 26 attached to the non-reference side spool flange 24 that faces the end portion of the seat 1 may not be a flat surface. Further, the flange attachment 26 may not be attached to the non-reference side spool flange 24. That is, at least the contact surface of the flange attachment 26 attached to the reference-side spool flange 23 with the seat 1 may be a flat surface.

  As shown in FIG. 13B, since the flange attachment 26 is not attached at the time of winding, the distance between the reference side spool flange 23 and the non-reference side spool flange 24 is increased accordingly, and the seat It becomes wider than the width of 1. The surfaces of the reference side spool flange 23 and the non-reference side spool flange 24 facing the end portion of the sheet 1 are tapered so that the skew of the wound sheet can be allowed to some extent.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of the setting operation of the paper tube 17 before starting the winding operation. 14 to 16, the case where the winding mode using the roll supply unit 70 a as the supply unit and the roll supply unit 70 b as the winding unit is selected by the operation of the operation panel 20 by the user will be described. To do. In addition to the winding mode, a discharge mode for discharging the sheet to the basket can be selected.

  In FIG. 14, the process from the time point when the sheet 1 is supplied from the upper roll supply unit 70 a and waits for the start of the printing operation according to the process flow described with reference to FIG. 7 will be described. This process is started when the winding mode is selected by the user.

  When the user sets the spool member 2 with the paper tube 17 set in the spool holder 31 of the roll supply unit 70b, the presence of the spool member 2b is detected by the spool detection sensor 32 (S61). When the detection signal is input to the CPU 201, the CPU 201 reversely rotates the drive motor 33 to separate the auxiliary mechanism 200b from the spool member 2b (S62). The conveyance roller drive motor 35 and the spool drive motor 34a are rotated forward (S63), and the sheet 1 is supplied from the roll supply unit 70a and conveyed.

  The CPU 201 determines whether or not the sheet 1 has been conveyed by a predetermined amount (S64). The predetermined amount is an amount corresponding to a length that causes the sheet 1 to bend in a state where the leading end of the sheet 1 is inserted between the paper tube 17 and the auxiliary mechanism 200b. If the predetermined amount has not been conveyed (NO in S64), the determination in S64 is repeated until the predetermined amount is conveyed. If the sheet 1 is being conveyed by a predetermined amount (YES in S64), the rotation of the conveyance roller drive motor 35 and the spool drive motor 34a is stopped (S65). Then, the CPU 201 gives an instruction to the user to insert the leading end of the sheet 1 between the paper tube 17 and the auxiliary mechanism 200b by displaying on the operation panel 20 or the like. When the CPU 201 recognizes that the operation in accordance with this instruction is completed by an operation from the user (S66), the CPU 201 rotates the drive motor 33b forward and presses the paper tube 17 by the auxiliary mechanism 200b (S67). . Further, the CPU 201 rotates the transport roller drive motor 35 in the reverse direction and rotates the spool drive motor 34b in the forward direction (S68). Here, the frictional force generated between the conveyance roller 10 and the sheet 1 is set higher than the frictional force generated between the paper tube 17 and the sheet 1. Therefore, the sheet 1 is rewound even if the two motors are rotated in opposite directions. In this state, since tension is applied to the sheet 1, the bending of the sheet 1 is eliminated, and even when the sheet 1 is skewed, the skew is corrected.

  The CPU 201 determines whether or not the sheet 1 has been rewound by a predetermined amount (S69). This predetermined amount is an amount that does not allow the sheet 1 to come out between the paper tube 17 and the auxiliary mechanism 200b. If the predetermined amount has not been rewound (NO in S69), the determination in S69 is repeated until rewinding. If it has been rewound by a predetermined amount (YES in S69), the rotation of the transport roller drive motor 35 and the spool drive motor 34b is stopped (S70). The CPU 201 instructs the user to fix the leading edge of the sheet 1 to the paper tube 17 by displaying it on the operation panel 20 or the like. When the CPU 201 recognizes that the operation according to this instruction has been completed by an operation from the user (S71), the present process is terminated. And it will be in the standby state which waits for the start of printing operation.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of the printing operation in the winding mode. Since the printing operation is started after S71 described with reference to FIG. 14, the auxiliary mechanism 200b is pressing the sheet 1 against the paper tube 17. When the CPU 201 receives the print data, the CPU 201 starts this processing, reversely rotates the drive motor 33b, and separates the auxiliary mechanism 200b from the paper tube 17 (S81). The CPU 201 rotates the spool drive motor 34a and the conveyance roller drive motor 35 in the forward direction, reversely rotates the spool drive motor 34b (S82), and starts the printing operation (S83). During the printing operation, similarly to the method described with reference to FIG. 7, the spool driving motor 34a is rotated in the reverse direction while restricting the current to the spool driving motor 34a, thereby applying the back tension to the sheet 1 and stretching the sheet 1. Transport in state.

  In the winding operation of the sheet 1, the spool driving motor 34 b is also driven together with the conveying roller driving motor 35. More specifically, the spool driving motor 34b is driven in the reverse direction along with the conveying operation by the conveying roller 10, and winds up the sheet 1. At this time, the current flowing through the spool drive motor 34b is limited and is controlled so as not to pull the sheet 1 above a predetermined torque (tension). Thereby, stable conveyance is realized.

  The CPU 201 determines whether or not printing of the received print data has been completed (S84). If the printing has not been completed (NO in S84), the determination in S84 is repeated until the printing is completed. If it has been completed (YES in S84), the rotation of the spool drive motor 34 and the transport roller drive motor 35 is stopped (S85), this process is terminated, and a standby state for waiting for the termination process is entered.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of termination processing in the winding mode. When a termination instruction execution instruction from the user is input to the CPU 201, the CPU 201 starts this processing, rotates the conveyance roller drive motor 35 and the spool drive motor 34 a in the forward direction, rotates the spool drive motor 34 b in the reverse direction, and performs the sheet 1 operation. Is conveyed and wound up (S101). The CPU 201 determines whether or not the sheet 1 has been conveyed by a predetermined amount (S102). If the predetermined amount is not conveyed (NO in S102), the sheet 1 is conveyed until the predetermined amount is conveyed. If the sheet is being conveyed by a predetermined amount (YES in S102), the rotation of the conveyance roller drive motor 35 and the spool drive motor 34a is stopped (S103), the drive motor 33b is rotated forward, and the auxiliary mechanism 200b is applied to the paper tube 17. The sheet 1 is pressed (S104).

  At that time, when the driven rotators 6 and 7 are in contact with the portion to which ink is applied to the sheet 1, the ink applied to the sheet 1 is transferred to other portions via the driven rotators 6 and 7. Sometimes. For this reason, it is desirable that the auxiliary mechanism 200b is brought into contact with the sheet 1 after the portion to which the ink has been applied is wound around the paper tube 17 to a position where it does not contact the driven rotating bodies 6 and 7. In order to prevent transfer, the auxiliary mechanism 200b may be brought into contact with the sheet 1 after the ink is dried, or the surfaces of the driven rotors 6 and 7 may be coated with fluorine.

  In a state where the sheet 1 is pressed against the paper tube 17 by the auxiliary mechanism 200b, the rotation of the spool drive motor 34b is temporarily stopped, and the cutter 16 is operated by the cutter drive motor (not shown) to move the sheet 1 out. Cut (S105). When the sheet 1 is cut, the rear end of the sheet 1 that faces the roll supply unit 70b is held by the user to prevent the rear end of the sheet 1 from falling. Then, the spool drive motor 34b is rotated again, the trailing end of the cut sheet 1 is wound around the paper tube 17 (S106), and the rotation of the spool drive motor 34b is stopped at a predetermined timing (S107). By the user's operation, the rear end of the cut sheet 1 is fixed to the paper tube 17 using a tape or the like, and this processing is completed.

  In the configuration that does not use the auxiliary mechanism 200b, the sheet may be unwound if the sheet 1 is not held in a tensioned state so that the sheet does not loosen during cutting. When the sheet is unwound, the surface to which the ink is applied may be rubbed when the sheet is subsequently wound. On the other hand, here, as described above, the auxiliary mechanism 200b is pressing the sheet 1 against the paper tube 17 in the processes after S103. Therefore, even if a slack occurs between the trailing edge of the sheet held by the user's hand after the sheet 1 is cut and the sheet pressed by the auxiliary mechanism 200b, the wound sheet is unwound. Absent. That is, here, the sheet can be accurately wound around the paper tube by assisting the operation using the auxiliary mechanism 200 not only at the time of supply but also at the time of winding.

  As described above, by using the movable guide member 68, the discharged sheet is prevented from entering the roll supply unit 70, and the guide member 68 operates during the setting or winding operation of the roll sheet or the like. It is possible to prevent obstruction. Further, by making the paper discharge guide 61 a movable member, it is possible to prevent the paper discharge guide 61 from hindering its operation when a roll sheet or the like is set. In addition, a situation that may occur when the selected control mode and the state of the printer 100 are compared, it is determined whether or not they are matched, and is notified to the user. Can also be prevented.

(Second Embodiment)
In the present embodiment, roll covers 80 and 81 and a guide member 82 are used as members corresponding to the paper discharge guide 61 and the guide member 68 in the first embodiment. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. Here, a guide portion is configured including the roll cover 80 and the guide member 82.

  17A and 17B are perspective views showing the printer 101 of this embodiment. 18A and 18B are schematic cross-sectional views showing the printer 101. FIG. FIGS. 17A and 18A show a case where any roll supply unit 70 is used as a supply unit. FIGS. 17B and 18B show cases where the roll supply unit 70a is used as a supply unit and the roll supply unit 70b is used as a winding unit.

  As shown in FIGS. 17A, 17B, 18A, and 18B, the roll cover 80 is disposed at a position where the roll sheet R set in the roll supply unit 70a can be covered. . The roll cover 81 is arranged at a position where the roll sheet R or the paper tube 17 set in the roll supply unit 70b can be covered.

  The roll cover 80 is rotatable around a fulcrum 80a shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, and the roll cover 81 is centered on a fulcrum 81a shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B. It can be turned. When setting the roll sheet R or the like on the roll supply unit 70, the roll covers 80 and 81 are rotated counterclockwise in a front view of the drawing, and the roll covers 80 and 81 are retracted to a position that does not hinder the setting operation. . After the setting, the roll covers 80 and 81 are rotated clockwise in a front view of the drawing, and the roll sheet R and the like are arranged at a position where they can be covered. The position detection sensor 84 outputs a detection signal when the roll cover 80 is disposed at a position where the roll sheet R can be covered, and the position detection sensor 85 is configured so that the roll cover 81 is positioned at a position where the roll sheet R can be covered. Outputs a detection signal when placed.

  A guide member 82 is attached to the lower part of the roll cover 80 in the z direction. The guide member 82 is a movable guide member that can be positioned at either the position for guiding the sheet 1 guided by the roll cover 80 toward the basket 62 or the position stored in the roll cover 80. It is pivotable about the center.

  As shown in FIG. 18A, the guide member 82 is configured to direct the discharged sheet 1 toward the bag-shaped portion constituted by the cloth member 64 in a state where the guide member 82 is disposed at a position for guiding the sheet 1. It has a bent part that is bent. Further, in the state shown in FIG. 18A, a gap for entering the sheet is not formed between the guide member 82 and the roll cover 81. Thus, the sheet 1 is guided by the guide member 82 even in a configuration in which the bag-like portion of the cloth member 64 does not have the portion 64c shown in FIGS. Then, the sheet 1 can be directed to the bag-like portion of the cloth member 64.

  The position detection sensor 83 outputs a detection signal when the guide member 82 is located at the position accommodated in the roll cover 80. When any of the roll supply units 70 is used as a supply unit, the roll cover 80, the guide member 82, and the roll cover 81 guide the sheet 1 toward the basket 62. This prevents the sheet 1 from entering the roll supply unit 70. Therefore, here, the rods 63b and 63d, the portion 64c of the cloth member 64, and the position detection sensor 67 in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are not provided. When the roll supply unit 70b is used as a winding unit, the guide member 82 is accommodated in the roll cover 80 as shown in FIGS. 17 (b) and 18 (b).

  FIGS. 19A and 19B are diagrams for explaining the configuration of the printer 100 when the roll supply unit 70b is used as a winding unit without storing the basket 62. FIG. FIG. 19A shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the printer 100, and FIG. 19B shows a configuration around the guide member 82, respectively. Here, from the state shown in FIG. 18A to the state shown in FIG. 19A without the operation of storing the basket 62, the roll supply unit 70b is used as a winding unit.

  The guide member 82 is rotatably attached to the shaft 82a. Here, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, three guide members 82 are attached to the roll cover 80. As shown in FIG. 19B, the shaft 82 a has a drive gear 88 attached to one end thereof and is connected to the drive motor 89 via the drive gear 88. Here, the supply or winding function is switched by the switching of the position of the guide member 82 by the CPU 201 controlling the drive motor 89 based on the user's selection, and the setting operation of the user's paper tube 17. Further, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the rod 63b shown in FIG. 1 or the like is not provided here. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 19A, here, the roll supply unit used as the supply unit is used as the winding unit as long as the guide member 82 is stored, even if the basket 62 is not stored. Can do.

  As described above, the sheet can be guided to a desired place by using the movable guide member as well, and these members can interfere with the operation when the roll sheet is set by using the movable roll cover. Can be prevented.

(Third embodiment)
In the present embodiment, a paper discharge guide 90 is used as a member corresponding to the paper discharge guide 61 and the guide member 68 in the first embodiment. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. Here, a guide portion is constituted by the paper discharge guide 90.

  20A and 20B are schematic cross-sectional views showing the printer 102 of the present embodiment. FIG. 20A shows a case where any roll supply unit 70 is used as a supply unit. FIG. 20B shows a case where the roll supply unit 70a is used as a supply unit and the roll supply unit 70b is used as a winding unit.

  20A and 20B and FIG. 2, the paper discharge guide 90 has a size corresponding to the combined size of the paper discharge guide 61 and the guide member 68 in the z direction. . The sheet 1 is guided by the paper discharge guide 90 toward the basket 62 or the roll supply unit 70b. As described above, the member that guides the sheet toward the basket 62 or the roll supply unit is configured by one member of the paper discharge guide 90. Thus, as compared with the configuration in which the paper discharge guide 61 and the guide member 68 are separate members as in the first embodiment, the position detection sensor 69 and the like are disposed without requiring the operation of storing or pulling out the guide member 68. There is no need to do.

  As shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, the arrangement of the discharge guide 90 is not changed here in both the discharge mode (supply mode) and the winding mode. That is, the paper discharge guide 90 is located at the same position both during supply and during winding. Even in this case, as shown in FIG. 20A, the size of the paper discharge guide 90 and the paper discharge guide 90 are set so that the discharged paper does not enter between the paper discharge guide 90 and the cloth member 64. And the cloth member 64 are set in a positional relationship. Here, as shown in FIG. 20B, the sheet can be wound up by storing the basket 62 without moving the paper discharge guide 90.

  Further, the paper discharge guide 90 is rotatable in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction from the front of the drawing around the shaft 90a. Therefore, also in this embodiment, when the roll sheet R is set in the upper roll supply unit 70a, the paper discharge guide 90 can be retracted to a position that does not hinder the user's operation.

  Thus, here, the sheet can be guided to a desired place depending on whether the basket 62 is opened or stored. Further, by using the movable paper discharge guide 90, it is possible to prevent the paper discharge guide 90 from interfering with the roll sheet setting operation.

(Fourth embodiment)
In this embodiment, a roller pair is used instead of the auxiliary mechanism 200. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 21 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the printer 103 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 21, here, a roller pair constituted by rollers 302 and 303 is arranged near the entrance of the conveyance guide 8 and at a position upstream of the positions of the conveyance roller 10 and the pinch roller 11 in the supply direction. Has been. The roller 302 is driven by a drive motor (not shown), and the roller 303 rotates following the rotation of the roller 302. In this configuration, when the user sets the roll sheet R, the roll sheet R is rotated, the leading end of the sheet 1 is inserted between the roller pair, and the sheet 1 is sandwiched between the roller pair. By setting the rotation speed of the drive motor that drives the roller 302 to be higher than the rotation speed of the spool drive motor 34, the sheet 1 is prevented from slackening and the sheet 1 is supplied.

  Also in the configuration shown in FIG. 21, a movable guide member 68 is used. When the roll supply unit is not used as a winding unit, the guide member 68 is extended to prevent the leading edge of the sheet from entering the roll supply unit. When the roll supply unit is used as a winding unit, the guide member 68 is accommodated in the paper discharge guide 61, and the guide member 68 is retracted to a position that does not hinder the winding operation. Further, by making the paper discharge guide 61 together with the guide member 68 a movable member, it is possible to prevent these members from interfering with the operation during the roll sheet setting operation or the like. Thus, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained here.

(Other embodiments)
In the above embodiment, the configuration of a printer using two roll supply units has been described. However, the number of roll supply units that can be used in the printer is not limited to two. Three or more roll supply units may be used. Alternatively, a single roll supply unit having a supply function of supplying a sheet to the print unit and a winding function of winding up a sheet supplied from another device or the like may be used. Even in this case, the sheet can be guided to a desired place by using the movable guide member as in the above embodiment.

61 Paper ejection guide (guide section)
62 Basket (container)
68 Guide member (guide part)
70 Roll supply unit (supply)
100 Printer (printing device)
400 print parts

Claims (9)

A supply unit for holding a plurality of rolls each wound with a continuous sheet;
A print unit that prints an image on a sheet drawn from any of the rolls held in the supply unit;
An accommodating portion for accommodating a sheet printed by the print portion;
A guide portion for guiding a sheet discharged from the print portion to the storage portion;
Have
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide unit is capable of switching between guiding the sheet discharged from the printing unit to the storage unit or guiding the sheet to the supply unit for winding.   The supply unit includes a first holding unit and a second holding unit, and is a sheet pulled out from a roll held by the first holding unit, printed by the printing unit, and guided to the supply unit by the guide unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is wound up by the second holding unit.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide unit switches between a first position for guiding the sheet to the storage unit and a second position for guiding the sheet to the supply unit. .   The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the guide unit can be switched to a third position that does not interfere when a roll is set in the supply unit.   5. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the guide portion is rotatably supported, and the first position and the second position are switched by the rotation. 6.   A detection unit for detecting the state of the guide unit, a destination for discharging the sheet, and a notification unit for informing a user when the state of the guide unit detected by the detection unit does not match. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is a printer.   In the mode in which the sheet is wound by the supply unit, and when it is detected that the guide unit is not in a state of guiding the sheet to the supply unit, the supply unit performs a sheet winding operation. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein there is no printing apparatus. A supply unit including a first holding unit and a second holding unit, each holding a roll wound with a continuous sheet;
A print unit that prints an image on a sheet drawn from any of the rolls held in the supply unit;
An accommodating portion for accommodating a sheet printed by the print portion;
A detection unit for detecting a sheet supplied from the supply unit toward the print unit;
Have
A first mode in which a sheet drawn from the first holding unit or the second holding unit and printed by the printing unit is discharged to the storage unit; and the print drawn from a roll held by the first holding unit. It is possible to execute a second mode in which a sheet printed by a part is wound by the second holding part,
When the detection unit does not detect the sheet supplied from the first holding unit or the second holding unit in the first mode, or the detection unit is supplied from the first holding unit in the second mode. A printing apparatus that informs a user to confirm a mode when a sheet is detected.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit prints an image by an inkjet method.

Images